# Sign Regulations in Mary Esther, Florida

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Mary Esther, Florida, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Mary Esther, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/mary-esther
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-17
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Mary_Esther/codes/Land_Development_Code?nodeId=ART16SI)

## At a glance

Mary Esther, Florida regulates 21 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Free Expression Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 feet if freestanding tall and 4 square feet, with a 10 feet from curb or edge of pavement setback (Sec. Section 16.04.00, point 7).

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 25 feet in residential districts, 35 feet in nonresidential districts | 24 square feet for residential, 48 square feet for nonresidential | — |
| Commercially Zoned Lots | 4 | 35 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Residentially Zoned Lots | 1 | — | 6 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Address Sign | — | 2 square feet for residences, 6 square feet for businesses | — | — | 1 per parcel | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point 1 |
| Free Expression Sign | 4 feet if freestanding | 4 square feet | — | 10 feet from curb or edge of pavement | 1 per parcel | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point 7 |
| Temporary Election Sign | 4 feet for residential use, 6 feet for commercial use | 4 square feet for residential use, 6 square feet for commercial use | — | 10 feet from property lines and curb or edge of pavement | 1 per candidate and issue | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point 9 |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines and curb or edge of pavement | 1 per parcel | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point j |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines and curb or edge of pavement | 1 per parcel or unit/space for sale, lease, or rent | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point k |
| Temporary Garage-Yard Sale Sign | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines and curb or edge of pavement | 1 per parcel | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point l |
| Temporary Business Sign | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines and curb or edge of pavement | 2 per parcel | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point o |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | 10 feet from property lines and curb or edge of pavement | 1 per parcel | — | — | Section 16.04.00, point p |

### Commercially Zoned Lots

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Section 16.05.00, point 1 |
| Wall Sign | 25 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | 3 per occupant | Exterior portion of occupant's unit | — | Section 16.05.00, point 2 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | — | — | Section 16.05.00, point 3 |
| Feather Flag | 10 feet | — | 3 feet | — | 1 per business | — | — | Section 16.05.00, point 4 |

### Residentially Zoned Lots

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Section 16.06.00 |

## Prohibited signs in Mary Esther

- Billboards; off-premises and off-site advertising signs.
- Portable signs.
- Roof signs.
- Signs that exceed the maximum height and/or size limitations set forth in this Article 16.
- Signs displayed in excess of the maximum number of signs per lot as set forth in this Article 16.
- Snipe signs and bandit signs.
- Prohibited vehicle signs.
- Abandoned and discontinued signs and sign structures.
- Signs that obstruct, conceal, hide or otherwise obscure from view any official traffic or governmental sign, signal or device.
- Any sign within a sight visibility triangle that obstructs a clear view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Any sign in the public right-of-way, other than Traffic Control Device Signs, bus stop informational signs, warning signs or safety signs.
- Any sign other than a Traffic Control Device Sign that uses the word 'stop' or 'danger,' or presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or the existence of danger, or which is a copy or imitation of official traffic control device signs, and which is adjacent to the right-of-way of any road, street, or highway.
- Any sign prohibited by state or federal law.
- Any sign located on real property without the permission of the property owner.
- Signs that emit sound, vapor, smoke, odor, particles or gaseous matter.
- Revolving signs.
- Wind signs.
- Signs with unshielded illuminating devices.
- Intermittent signs.
- Projecting signs.
- Sandwich board signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mary Esther

- Nameplate signs and occupant identification signs not exceeding six (6) square feet in area.
- Legal notices and official instruments.
- Advertising or identification signs located on vehicles, trailers or bumpers; however, this shall not include prohibited vehicle signs.
- Any sign not visible from a public street, sidewalk or right-of-way; except that the foregoing does not exempt a sign for a commercial use that is visible from an abutting residential use.
- A sign, other than a window sign, located entirely inside the premises of a building or enclosed space.
- A statutory sign.
- Traffic Control Device Signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The sign permit application shall be accompanied by plans and specifications drawn to scale, together with any site plan required by the Code.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Mary Esther, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Mary+Esther+FL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-mary-esther

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